RANGIORA WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 793, 8 December 1870, Page 2

RANGIORA WES LEY AN CHURCH.

T;e anniversary sermons of this church were preached on Sunday last by the Hey Wm, Keall, of Lawrence, to large and attentive congregations. On Tuesday evening, the annual tea meetiDg was held, when a respectable company sat down to a most excellent repast. After the good things had been done justice to, and the church cleared; the more intellectual part of the meeting was commenced by singing the 40th hymn, and prayer by the Rev H. Bull. Mr Joseph Thompson, circuit steward, was called to the chair, and the report was read by the Rev ! W. H. Beck, the minister of the church. j

After a few remarks, the Chairman called upon Mr W. B. Marten, of Otago, who sai 1 that he considered such meetings signs of the church's progress, and pledges of the church's future triumphs. Some people held that the world would never be converted, but he thought that quite a mißtake, The world was never better than now. The speaker then pointed out that ' it was the duty of all to employ whatever talents they possessed in the accomplishment of their great work, and if they did so, the church would be filled, and God's work prosper.

Mr Gilbert, of Balclutha, followed with an address on Unity v. Uniformity, and showed that a living, and active unity, might exist in the midst of the greatest diversity, whereas uniformity was invariably followed by spiritual death. There was uniformity without beauty in the starless midnight sky, and the ice-hound seas of the north, hut there was a lovely unity at the same time with diversity, in the rainbow, and the rolling waves of more temperate climes. Such unity should exist in the church, if we would see the evangelization of the world.

The Rev H. Bull, of Port Chalmers, congratulated the Rangiora friends on the smallness of the church debt (some £13), and considered the church there at all events whs not retrograding but advancing. Whatever some might think on the subject of the entire world's conversion, he thanked God he did not hold such doctrines. The Methodist branch of the Church of Christ was making rapid progress in America, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy, as well as in Britain and the colonies, and no doubt other churches could show corresponding signs of spiritual advancement.

Mr Meredith thought, after so much had been said about the progress of the church outwardly, it would not be out of place to enquire if it were making a corresponding advance spiritually. It was very clear the church was in a far better position out-., wardiy today than in the times of Luther, Wickliffe, or Augustine. But what of its inward progress ? It was to be regretted that white so many professed the religion of Christ, so few could be found who really possessed His spirit. He concluded by urging upon all to cultivate the spirit of the Gospel, and not rest contented with the mere letter.

The Rev. D. M'Nicoll, ot Waikouaiti, was glad to see so large and influential a meeting. A great deal had been said respecting those who teach that the world will never be converted to God. Such doctrines were derogatory to the honour of Christ. He knew they were contrary to fact, and would, without hesitation, brand them as lies. He then made some observations on the comparieon to be observed between the stars and Christians. There were very few Christians who were stars of the first magnitude. Many present, he thought, might be termed sth and 6th magnitude Christians. Below the 10th magnitude or thereabouts, one needed telescopes to see the stars, so there were telescopic Christians who were invisible to the naked eye, and what little goodness they had was often viewed through the wrong end of the telescope. There were also what he termed meteor Christians, and planet Christians, the latter being the true sort. Aa he was the last speuker, he would take upon himself the ! office of judge, and pass sentence on the preceding speakers. On the whole, he thought they had behaved themselves well, and had given their friends a pretty good idea of the talents developed in " the cold South."

After the usual vote of thanks, the Doxo logy was Bung, and the benediction pro-; nounced by the Rev. W. Beck, and thud terminated a moat successful and enjoyable evening.